264 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



one must ask what would be the advantage if wages were raised to the 

 "American" standard while work would be provided for only a part 

 of those seeking it. Increased wages of those at work would only 

 increase the misery of those without it, by increasing the cost of living. 

 To be satisfied respecting the relation of wages to cost, one need only 

 compare the prices and wages of 1896 with those of 1910. 



All of these suggestions ignore some essential elements of the 

 problem. There can be no relief so long as the more or less incom- 

 petent and improvident class remains as the preponderating element 

 in our urban population. It is well known that at present births are 

 more numerous in the poorer than in the better parts of cities and 

 that the more or less dependent class increases with great rapidity. As 

 long as this condition continues all suggestions for improvement will 

 be worthless. The first aim must be to prevent multiplication of the 

 class born to poverty. 



When one advocates restriction of marriage, he finds himself face 

 to face with bitter opposition based partly on sentimental notions, 

 partly on supposed religious grounds and partly on inherited concep- 

 tions. He is told that marriage is a sacred thing; that reproduction 

 is one of life's great duties, for God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful 

 and to replenish the earth; and he is warned that by placing restric- 

 tions on marriage the community would encourage immorality. 



The reference to Adam and Eve is hardly relevant to conditions of 

 this day. If they were the only pair, they certainly had no reason to 

 fear for the future; the world was theirs and there was ample pro- 

 vision for abundant progeny. They were in excellent physical condi- 

 tion and, being thoroughly repentent, they were well-fitted morally for 

 parental responsibility. The plea that marriage is a sacred thing 

 with which the state may not meddle is unimportant. The state does 

 meddle and does regulate; even the Mosaic civil law regulated it; and 

 the limit to which the state may go in regulation must be determined 

 only by what is demanded for protection of the community. The plea 

 that marriage is a sacred thing is made by the same pleaders who 

 praise marriage as preventing "immorality" — not a very exalted con- 

 ception of the purpose of marriage. But judging from reports 

 of surgeons, there is no great room for increase of the vice, euphe- 

 mistically termed "immorality"; but even if there were, the com- 

 munity would not be responsible for the result, any more than it is 

 responsible for burglary and theft because it recognizes individual 

 ownership of property. On the other hand, by permitting practically 

 unrestricted marriage, it is guilty of encouraging still greater evil, the 

 growth of a shiftless, feeble class with tendency to criminal ways and 

 with prospect of little happiness. 



Much has been said and written recently in favor of large families 



